This one is always divisive. Some people think they’re ugly and useless, others think they’re good to keep on to protect your spokes in the worst case scenario.
I just got back from the garage from cutting mine off (and unfortunately it wasn’t a low quality/thin one so it took forever). I’m not against them per se but after about 1200km of riding, I noticed that it started to rattle and it was annoying me.
What do you guys/gals/pals think of them?
- Evkob ( @Evkob@lemmy.ca ) English11•1 year ago
I am a dork so I keep it in for identification purposes.
- offthecrossbar ( @offthecrossbar@beehaw.org ) English8•1 year ago
This one always gets a chuckle out of me when I see how strongly people feel about it. Obviously if it’s causing any issues while riding like in your case it’s gotta go, but outside of that I don’t even notice them on bikes half the time. I had to check my bike just now to see if I have mine on (I do 😅)
- Golther ( @Golther@infosec.pub ) English6•1 year ago
It provides a bit of protection. I don’t care what other people think, I lleave mine on.
- Showroom7561 ( @Showroom7561@lemmy.ca ) English5•1 year ago
On my folding bike, I kept them on because “they serve a purpose”, but then realized that they were not allowing my wheels to turn freely no matter how they were adjusted.
Once I removed them, my wheels now spin forever. LOL
If they weren’t causing trouble, I would have just left them on.
Edit: Ignore that I’m making it sound like there are two dork disks on my bike… it was on one wheel (rear) and only there was only one! LOL
- Thorny_Thicket ( @Thorny_Thicket@sopuli.xyz ) English3•1 year ago
Serves no purpose. I’ve had my chain fall between the cassette and spokes several times but nothing broke because I managed to stop the bike immediately which often is the case because you’re already on the lowest gear by then anyways.
- jerkface ( @jerkface@lemmy.ca ) English3•1 year ago
I don’t have an opinion on something I only think about once every seven or eight years.
- dangit_bobby ( @dangit_bobby@lemmy.ca ) English3•1 year ago
I try to remove anything that isn’t totally necessary. So they’re a no from me, dawg.
- ag_roberston_author ( @ag_roberston_author@beehaw.org ) English3•1 year ago
Depends if it’s noisy or not. If they rattle, they’re gone, otherwise I don’t worry too much about it.
- PurelySnype ( @PurelySnype@lemm.ee ) English3•1 year ago
I like the looks of a bike without them but not enough to remove them unless I have the casette off.
- Avid Amoeba ( @avidamoeba@lemmy.ca ) English2•1 year ago
I walk with a pair of pliers, giving folks instant upgrades. Thieves steal bikes. Snobs snap dork discs off.
- HelixDab2 ( @HelixDab2@lemm.ee ) English2•1 year ago
If your rear derailleur is adjusted correctly, then it’s absolutely useless. I have never seen a point in keeping one on. Every one I’ve had has broken at some point or another, so it makes sense to just remove it preemptively the first time I have the cassette off.
- daveywaveyboy ( @daveywaveyboy@feddit.ch ) English1•1 year ago
I think the term is unhelpful. I would not have one on my bikes (I had to remove one from a carbon canyon), but i can adjust a derailleur. But they are practical and keeping a practical item doesn’t make people dorks. We should show love to all cyclists regardless their bike or gear - we are an endangered species!